"Beards are sin!" False doctrine?

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

Oh its not JUST the UPC. Its all the Pastors and Preachers that have taught false doctrine over the years no doubt causing many to lose their souls. They must certainly repent and apologize. THEN we can move on.

You know... the more I think about it... the more it troubles me. Imagine being a pastor watching all the souls that could have otherwise been saved being cast into Hell... because YOU made them feel unwelcomed, like second class citizens in the kingdom, or like they had sinned... for no biblical reason.

How could God just fist bump those pastors and forgive such a thing???

[aegsm76]

Originally Posted by Aquila

You know... the more I think about it... the more it troubles me. Imagine being a pastor watching all the souls that would have otherwise been saved being cast into Hell... because YOU made them feel unwelcomed, or like they had sinned... for no biblical reason.

How could God just fist bump those pastors and forgive such a thing???

Imagine being lost just because you harbored bitterness in your heart since you were not willing to give up a beard because it offended your brother...

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by aegsm76

Imagine being lost just because you harbored bitterness in your heart since you were not willing to give up a beard because it offended your brother...

I don't have bitterness. I'm saddened. I also have a degree of righteous anger, indignation, against those who would take my money, but not treat me as an equal in the body as those who are shaven. I'm saddened to see the sin of partiality over something that isn't even prohibited in Scripture. A cultural partiality that has alienated many a man from Christ. If I am bitter... it's because such an unbiblical standard has cost a number of men their souls. Who in their right mind wouldn't be bitter about that?

Showing partiality in the body is a sin (James 2:9).

If the sin of partiality, which IS mentioned in Scripture, isn't repented of... those guilty of such an unnecessary and divisive sin will no doubt bust Hell wide open... and their shaven faces won't be able to save them.

[Aquila]

Imagine being a pastor in the Judgment... and hearing all the statements you've made against those brethren with beards. You watch all the occasions you treated bearded men like they were second class citizens in the church by not allowing their full participation. You see every dollar they put in the plate, how they supported your ministry, how they prayed for you... and then... it is revealed to you how deeply your words hurt them, discouraged them and their families, and even caused some to stumble and fall away from the truth. And as you stare at what you've done in shame because you know there is no Bible for it... and even admitted that it isn't a sin... you look over at your Judge... and His deep eyes peer at you, with tears streaming down, His bearded face.

Matthew 25:40
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

[n david]

Originally Posted by Aquila

You're right. It isn't about the issue of beards. But it is about treating people like second class citizens in church gatherings just because their appearance is different from the appearance of another.

As a man with a beard (which you admitted isn't a sin), the fact that a pastor wouldn't allow me to be on the platform, but would allow my shaved brother sitting right beside me to be on the platform, makes me a second class citizen in that church.

If it isn't a sin, and if Scripture doesn't place any prohibition, or regulation, why even invent such a divisive policy???

James 2:9
But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin.

That's pretty clear.

If you read his post, he's quoting my post about the most recent experience I had with creating a guideline. Not sure you noticed, but that guideline did NOT include a prohibition on beards. That church was a predominate hispanic church and the Pastor did not prohibit facial hair on men.

So your response here doesn't match the narrative or flow of the conversation.

Now, in response to this post . . .

Using your logic, the ministry and platform should be open to anyone and everyone, including those who aren't even saved.

Absurd.

The context of this passage is about giving favor to those who are rich and give to the church over those who are poor and cannot.

This passage references Leviticus 19:15, "Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour."

[n david]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Imagine being a pastor in the Judgment... and hearing all the statements you've made against those brethren with beards. You watch all the occasions you treated bearded men like they were second class citizens in the church by not allowing their full participation. You see every dollar they put in the plate, how they supported your ministry, how they prayed for you... and then... it is revealed to you how deeply your words hurt them, discouraged them and their families, and even caused some to stumble and fall away from the truth. And as you stare at what you've done in shame because you know there is no Bible for it... and even admitted that it isn't a sin... you look over at your Judge... and His deep eyes peer at you, with tears streaming down, His bearded face.

Matthew 25:40
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

I am 100% it won't be Jim Caviezel sitting on the Throne on the Day of Judgment. smh

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by n david

Using your logic, the ministry and platform should be open to anyone and everyone, including those who aren't even saved.

Are you now saying that a Oneness brother who has obeyed Acts 2:38, lives a clean and holy life, isn't saved if he has a beard?

I ask that because I'm only talking about those who are born again of water and Spirit, baptized in Jesus name, seeking to live Christlike lives, who know that Jesus is the Lord of Glory, and .... who happen to have beards.

You're saying that the pastor should be allowed to treat such a brother like a second class citizen in the Kingdom, when you admittedly stated that beards aren't a sin at all.

[n david]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

Oh its not JUST the UPC. Its all the Pastors and Preachers that have taught false doctrine over the years no doubt causing many to lose their souls. They must certainly repent and apologize. THEN we can move on.

That's not what the Bible says.

[n david]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Showing partiality in the body is a sin (James 2:9).

Taking the verse out of context and twisting in a feeble attempt to apply it to beards. Doesn't work.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by n david

I am 100% it won't be Jim Caviezel sitting on the Throne on the Day of Judgment. smh

I know. And that should bring sobriety to your position. Because the one on the Throne will be Jesus. Who wore a beard.